If a current court battle over same-sex marriage winds up working against same-sex couples, California Democrats might use their new supermajority power in the state legislature to put the issue back on a ballot.

California's current ban on same-sex marriage -- Proposition 8 -- was ruled unconstitutional by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, but the measure's proponents have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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The Supreme Court is scheduled to announce later this month whether it will consider the matter. If the justices decide not to take up the issue, then the decision of the circuit court will stand.

On the other hand, if the court decides to review the lower court's decision and then decides to let the marriage ban stand, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said Thursday that he would like to reintroduce the issue to voters.

"People have the right to revisit these questions," Steinberg said. "And I must tell you, it's very clear from what's happening in other states that public opinion is shifting. It's shifting pretty dramatically in favor of civil rights for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation."

Democrats, now with two-thirds of the vote in both the state Assembly and Senate, could put a constitutional amendment before voters without any Republican support in the state legislature.

At least one Republican lawmaker said same-sex marriage should not be a priority in the legislature's next term.

"When we take a look at the vote of the people, Proposition 8 passed and that is the law of the state of California," said Sen. Ted Gaines, (R)-Roseville. "And, I do think that we ought to be focusing on critical issues at hand, and that is the economy."

Ken Pierce, a Sacramento-area activist for gay rights, said while he is encouraged by Steinberg's idea, he believes the gay community will get good news from the Supreme Court.

Even if the court takes up the matter, Pierce believes the justices are more likely to rule in favor of same-sex couples.

"I'm not afraid for it to go to the ballot, even though I don't think that it is a ballot issue," Pierce said. "It is a civil rights issue. It is a constitutional issue. It should be decided by the court."